6. Hon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader—Labour) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
Did she agree with the advice she received on the Future Focus package?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
I received a great deal of advice on the package. I agreed with most of the advice, but some of the advice I did not agree with.
What research was provided to her that accurately quantifies the size of behavioural change expected from beneficiaries arising from her Future Focus policy decisions?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
A great range of research. For example, one research paper I saw was that a Swedish controlled experiment found that postponing the medical checks on sickness benefits by 1 week increased the duration of compensation by 6.6 percent.
I seek leave to table a document. It is the regulatory impact statement of the Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill, which says that no research was available to do what the Minister said it could.
Mr SPEAKERWhy would the Government put in place a policy when it is not backed by research, when she cannot determine how many people would shift from benefits as a result of the policy, when the so-called savings of $200 million over 10 years have been discredited, when Treasury opposes parts of it, when the Attorney-General said it does not create a fairer benefit system, and while 168,000 unemployed people are out there wanting jobs?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Because for far too long we have ignored long-term welfare dependency in this country. For far too long it was put in the too-hard basket, whilst 250,000 New Zealanders sat on welfare at the best of economic times under the previous Government.
Katrina ShanksHon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Yes, I have seen a number of reports where Treasury advised the previous Government that plenty of money was available for tax cuts, for example. I have also seen reports of Treasury advising that Working for Families would be ineffective in delivering on its key target of making work pay. A particular favourite of mine is a quote directly from Michael Cullen: “I have a very good relationship with Treasury. However, unlike the member opposite, I have no intention of being Treasury’s poodle.”
Charles ChauvelA point of order has been called. I apologise, but I could not hear the member calling for a point of order, such was the noise from some of his colleagues.
That was a very lengthy answer, but it related entirely to matters outside the Minister’s area of responsibility.
The Minister was commenting on reports she has seen about the Government acting on or ignoring advice. I believe that is what she was answering to the House. It was difficult for me to hear, but I believe that was in the answer she was giving to the House, which seemed to me to be in order.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It was a little hard to hear, but I think she referred to members opposite as poodles. I think, coming from a dachshund, that is pretty—
I ask the member not to do that. [ Interruption] I am still ruling on a point of order, and I ask members on both sides of the House to respect that. I did not hear what the Minister said. If she applied a derogatory term to the Opposition, then she should not do so. Likewise, the Hon Trevor Mallard should not use a point of order to make that kind of comment. Let us call it one all at this stage and come back to having a little more reasonable order.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
I would like to finish my answer, because I was interrupted by the point of order.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
It was a direct quote from Michael Cullen, who said: “I have a very good relationship with Treasury. However, unlike the member opposite, I have no intention of being Treasury’s poodle.”
On what actual date did she personally consult with the Māori Party on the final version of the Future Focus policy, which she made a claim about earlier today?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
I first met with Dr Pita Sharples on 26 November, from memory. I consulted with the whole Māori Party on 16 February. The policy has been through the normal process many times, which has been available to the Māori Party, but those two dates come to mind at this time.
In light of that answer, I ask who is accurate—Tariana Turia, her Associate Minister, who said this morning that she was consulted at the last minute; or the Minister and the Prime Minister, who said today that the Māori Party was consulted from late last year and given a chance to give some feedback? Both cannot be right.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
As is the way with something this big and with this much detail, it changes all the time. I think that Minister Turia saw the last paper last week, and that is where her comments came from. The Prime Minister was obviously quite correct in his comments when he said that a lengthy consultation process had been done.
Catherine Delahunty Link to this
I seek leave to table the National Party benefits policy from the 2008 election—